World Breastfeeding Week celebrated in U.T. Chandigarh

World Breastfeeding Week celebrated in U.T. Chandigarh

Chandigarh, 7th August 2019: World Breastfeeding Week from “01st August, 2019 to 07th August, 2019” was celebrated in U.T. Chandigarh with this year’s Theme “Empower Parents Enable Breastfeeding” by the Department of Social Welfare Women & Child Development, Chandigarh Administration with full enthusiasm.

The message was conveyed all over Chandigarh that "Giving all children the best start in life begins with breastfeeding – one of the simplest, smartest, and most cost-effective way that we have for supporting healthier children, stronger families, and sustainable growth.

Traditionally, only targeted beneficiaries i.e. Mothers were counseled for Breastfeeding but this time involvement of husbands was also ensured. Husbands were motivated that how they can support the mother’s by helping in the household chores so that mothers can spare time for Breastfeeding.

Health camp was organized at the Construction site of PGI on 07.08.2019 and the team of Doctors alongwith Dr. Bhavneet Bharti, Professor, Department of Pediatrician, PGIMER, Chandigarh oriented the community members about benefits of   Breastfeeding.

As per NHFS data only 33.5% of the Children under age 3 years are breastfed within one hour of birth. To create awareness among the masses about importance of early initiation of Breastfeeding within one hour of the birth of child and exclusive breastfeeding upto 6 months, number of activities were organized by the Department.

➢ The benefits of Kangaroo mother care, which is a method of holding a baby by the mother with skin-to-skin contact, were also taught to the mothers and family members through door to door visits during this week.

➢ Friendship Protection Bands were distributed to the mothers as a symbol of promise for exclusive Breastfeeding to their children.

➢ Flip books (Breastfeeding Guides) were launched at the Anganwadi Centre of Dadumajra by the department and distributed in all the Anganwadi Centres to counsel the beneficiaries importance of Breastfeeding.

➢ An event was organized at Anganwadi Building, Sector-41, Chandigarh to select best mothers for exclusive Breastfeeding and hand bags with the slogan of Breastfeeding were distributed to them.

➢ Rallies were organized at Bapudham, Mouli Village, Manimajra, Indira Colony, Sarangpur, Palsora Colony, Dadumajra Colony, Maloya Colony, Sector-24, A.W. Building, Kajheri, Sector-45, Hallomajra, Ramdarbar, Sector-41 A, Dhanas for awareness of the masses on benefits of Breastfeeding.

➢ Lectures on Breastfeeding were delivered by Medical Officers, Infant Young Child Feeding Trainers in all the 450 Anganwadi Centres during the week.

➢ Self Help Group and Influencers participated in the community to promote Breastfeeding were identified from Community to promote optimal Breastfeeding

➢ To encourage and family mothers Door to Door visits were conducted by all 450 Anganwadi Workers in their respective areas.

➢ To promote Breastfeeding Nukkad Nataks were organized in the Anganwadi Building of Ramdarbar, New flats of Dhanas, Palsora village and Dadumajra in convergence with the Song & Drama Division.

➢ Healthy Baby Shows, Puppet Shows were also organized in convergence with line department.